Fingerprint is a very
significant feature of a human body. Fingerprint is something that
makes every individual unique. The recovery of fingerprints
from...

Fingerprint is a very significant feature of a human body. Fingerprint is something that makes every individual unique. The recovery of fingerprints from a crime scene is an important method of forensic science. Fingerprints are easily deposited on suitable surfaces which can be a glass, metal or some polished stone.

Fingerprints are used for more than identifying somebody. Fingerprints form ridges on our fingers and hands which actually help us to grab items better. So it difficult to imagine writing or painting without fingerprints. In fact, when we touch someone these ridges also increase vibration against our fingers, which gives us intensified sense of touch.

Basically there are 3 types of shapes or ridge patterns. They are Whorl, Loop and arch. Whorl forms a circular pattern that look like whirlpool. Loops are the ridges that flows from one side and loop around the ridges. Arch forms ridges like a wave pattern. They are the least common pattern.

One of the interesting fact about fingerprints is that, among the millions of fingerprints registered no two fingerprints have found to be exactly the same. These are so unique that even identical twins exhibit a different set of fingerprints. The odds of finding two persons with the same fingerprints have been approximated to be 1 in 64 billion. A perfect fingerprint match will contain around 175-180 points of information. In the UK and Australia, they require between 12-16 matching points in order to use as an evidence against someone.

Fingerprints were thought to be wrinkles due to repeated motions, or an evolutionary process to help humans grip objects around, scientists have not yet confirmed about what fingerprints are and what purpose they actually serve.